Recently, I stumbled across a website that makes some pretty incredible claims for insuring the iphone. Here are the details:
Low upfront cost
100% Parts and Labor
No Deductibles
No Occurrence Limit
No Lemon Guarantee
Toll-Free Support
Nationwide Coverage
Rapid Claim System
Plan includes:
• 2 full years of hardware protection (from date of purchase)
• Double the coverage of the standard iPhone/iPad warranty
• Repair or replacement for any hardware failure
• Battery replacement
• Accidental damage
• Drops, spills, water damage, cracked screens
• Zero deductible
• Coverage must be activated within 30 days of purchase
So what's the price? $94.95 for 2 years of coverage.
I was almost about to get some insurance through SquareTrade (they seem the most reasonable compared to anyone else I've seen), but this insurance really just blows it out of the water because SquareTrade won't pay out more than the value of the phone, and there is a $50 deductible for accidental damage. Plus, SquareTrade's costs more.
However, I am having doubts. Just looking at the website, you can tell that the design is kind of sketchy. There is text that isn't aligned properly, text that runs underneath buttons (which makes the text un-readable), and other strange design choices or oversights.
There is a phone number listed, so I called it. Actually, I literally just got off the phone with the guy as I was writing this post.
The first time I called, I got a voicemail, but I saw that he tried to call me back twice while I was on the phone with another person. I called him back and spoke to him for about 15-20 minutes and he did sound very knowledgeable about the insurance business. He said that he has been in the industry for 9 years, but that the iphone thing is very new. His office is only made up of 3 people, and I think it used to be 4 but one of them recently passed away.
When I asked him about the "no deductible" and "no occurrence limit" things, he said that basically he's not charging a deductible because he wants to keep the prices down. As far as the occurrence limit goes, he said that has to do with the company who actually does the insurance policy (the underwriters or whatever I guess). He said that they are the ones who run the numbers and evaluate things like loss ratio, price of premium, etc. So basically I don't think he necessarily has to be concerned with people screwing him over, but the underwriters do. I think he said that he's getting (or has already got) signed on with the same people that SquareTrade uses.
He said that he is the sole developer of the website, and that he just threw it up quick for friends so that they could start taking out his insurance on the iphone. He said that he didn't know it would get so big, but he's getting a lot of inquiries and he said that a lot of people, like me, are skeptical. Also, he said that there should be an app on the app store in about 3-4 weeks or so. Apparently one of his guys was designing the app, but he's the same one that passed away, so he has had to contract the app to a 3rd party company.
Additionally, he said that the local State Farm office will refer 2-3 people to him each month who are looking for iPhone insurance since State Farm won't insure it. I asked him for the contact info for this office and he said that he would email it to me. He even offered to let me speak to some other customers, but of course talking to State Farm would be the best way to confirm that he's legit. Since I literally just got off the phone with him, I'm still waiting for that contact info, but I will update this post after I've spoken to them.
Basically, this insurance plan looks like the best compared to anything else I have seen. I want to get it, but first I want to make sure that he's legit and that I'm not getting ripped off. If anyone else has done business with this company or has any knowledge of this website, it would be much appreciated.
Again, I will update this post once I find out more. I would encourage you to check out the website and maybe even give him a call if you feel so inclined and post your opinions here afterward.
UPDATE:
I just got off the phone with a State Farm in NY, and the conversation went like this:
Me: Do you guys offer insurance for iphone?
SF: No, we don't.. Hold on one second, I think we know a broker who does"
[waiting]
SF: You still there hun?
Me: Yes
SF: Okay, his name is Tony and the number I have for him is 888-705-9272
(The name of the guy I'm dealing with through the website is Anthony Diaferia. I asked for his last name but they (SF) didn't know it and couldn't find his card. However, the phone number given is the same number that is listed on the website.)
I then explained the situation, how I was trying to verify if this guy is legit or not. The State Farm agent went on to say that he is very legit and a good guy. They said he lives in the same complex as their manager and they run into each other all the time.
The only thing is that I wonder how I can verify if I was speaking to a real State Farm or not. Here's the contact info:
Vitiello Insurance, Joseph Vitiello*, State Farm Insurance*
583 Route 303 # B
Blauvelt, NY 10913-1106 map
New York, NY Metro Area
Phone: (845) 359-3200
Low upfront cost
100% Parts and Labor
No Deductibles
No Occurrence Limit
No Lemon Guarantee
Toll-Free Support
Nationwide Coverage
Rapid Claim System
Plan includes:
• 2 full years of hardware protection (from date of purchase)
• Double the coverage of the standard iPhone/iPad warranty
• Repair or replacement for any hardware failure
• Battery replacement
• Accidental damage
• Drops, spills, water damage, cracked screens
• Zero deductible
• Coverage must be activated within 30 days of purchase
So what's the price? $94.95 for 2 years of coverage.
I was almost about to get some insurance through SquareTrade (they seem the most reasonable compared to anyone else I've seen), but this insurance really just blows it out of the water because SquareTrade won't pay out more than the value of the phone, and there is a $50 deductible for accidental damage. Plus, SquareTrade's costs more.
However, I am having doubts. Just looking at the website, you can tell that the design is kind of sketchy. There is text that isn't aligned properly, text that runs underneath buttons (which makes the text un-readable), and other strange design choices or oversights.
There is a phone number listed, so I called it. Actually, I literally just got off the phone with the guy as I was writing this post.
The first time I called, I got a voicemail, but I saw that he tried to call me back twice while I was on the phone with another person. I called him back and spoke to him for about 15-20 minutes and he did sound very knowledgeable about the insurance business. He said that he has been in the industry for 9 years, but that the iphone thing is very new. His office is only made up of 3 people, and I think it used to be 4 but one of them recently passed away.
When I asked him about the "no deductible" and "no occurrence limit" things, he said that basically he's not charging a deductible because he wants to keep the prices down. As far as the occurrence limit goes, he said that has to do with the company who actually does the insurance policy (the underwriters or whatever I guess). He said that they are the ones who run the numbers and evaluate things like loss ratio, price of premium, etc. So basically I don't think he necessarily has to be concerned with people screwing him over, but the underwriters do. I think he said that he's getting (or has already got) signed on with the same people that SquareTrade uses.
He said that he is the sole developer of the website, and that he just threw it up quick for friends so that they could start taking out his insurance on the iphone. He said that he didn't know it would get so big, but he's getting a lot of inquiries and he said that a lot of people, like me, are skeptical. Also, he said that there should be an app on the app store in about 3-4 weeks or so. Apparently one of his guys was designing the app, but he's the same one that passed away, so he has had to contract the app to a 3rd party company.
Additionally, he said that the local State Farm office will refer 2-3 people to him each month who are looking for iPhone insurance since State Farm won't insure it. I asked him for the contact info for this office and he said that he would email it to me. He even offered to let me speak to some other customers, but of course talking to State Farm would be the best way to confirm that he's legit. Since I literally just got off the phone with him, I'm still waiting for that contact info, but I will update this post after I've spoken to them.
Basically, this insurance plan looks like the best compared to anything else I have seen. I want to get it, but first I want to make sure that he's legit and that I'm not getting ripped off. If anyone else has done business with this company or has any knowledge of this website, it would be much appreciated.
Again, I will update this post once I find out more. I would encourage you to check out the website and maybe even give him a call if you feel so inclined and post your opinions here afterward.
UPDATE:
I just got off the phone with a State Farm in NY, and the conversation went like this:
Me: Do you guys offer insurance for iphone?
SF: No, we don't.. Hold on one second, I think we know a broker who does"
[waiting]
SF: You still there hun?
Me: Yes
SF: Okay, his name is Tony and the number I have for him is 888-705-9272
(The name of the guy I'm dealing with through the website is Anthony Diaferia. I asked for his last name but they (SF) didn't know it and couldn't find his card. However, the phone number given is the same number that is listed on the website.)
I then explained the situation, how I was trying to verify if this guy is legit or not. The State Farm agent went on to say that he is very legit and a good guy. They said he lives in the same complex as their manager and they run into each other all the time.
The only thing is that I wonder how I can verify if I was speaking to a real State Farm or not. Here's the contact info:
Vitiello Insurance, Joseph Vitiello*, State Farm Insurance*
583 Route 303 # B
Blauvelt, NY 10913-1106 map
New York, NY Metro Area
Phone: (845) 359-3200
